Best Seasonings for Tofu

Have you gone vegan or vegetarian? Are you trying tofu for the first time? Tofu is very different from meat, so read on for our tips!

When you’re learning to cook tofu, it’s essential to be aware of the best way to make it absorb flavors. Tofu doesn’t have much flavor on its own, but you can manipulate it to absorb seasonings and other flavors.

You can try all sorts of marinades when cooking tofu, but there are some tried and tested options that we’d recommend to any tofu first-timers!

Asian-style tofu marinade

This tofu marinade uses traditional Asian ingredients, including rice vinegar and soy sauce. The maple syrup gives it a sweet flavor, while the ginger and garlic give it an edge.

Ingredients

• 1 14oz block of firm or extra firm tofu
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 3 tbsps rice vinegar
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 piece of ginger (about 1in in length)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. If the tofu is stored in water, press it. You can do this with a designated tofu press, like this one from https://tofubud.com, or you can use a dish towel and weight. Once the tofu is pressed, cube it.
2. Grate the ginger and crush the garlic.
3. Put these ingredients in a bowl along with all other ingredients apart from the oil and tofu.
4. Put the tofu cubes into a fairly shallow dish, and then pour over the marinade. Leave the tofu cubes to marinade for around an hour.
5. Cook the tofu pieces in a frying pan with the oil. Once the tofu is cooked, add the rest of the marinade.

4 ingredient tofu seasoning

This is a simple way to cook tofu, and you should have most of the ingredients in your cupboard. It is also a baked dish, so it is healthier than other marinated tofu recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 block of firm or extra-firm tofu
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Press the tofu as described above.
2. Cut the tofu block into cubes about 1 inch thick and place them into a large bowl.
3. Firstly, pour a little olive oil onto the tofu. Then, sprinkle cornstarch, black pepper, salt, and garlic powder on the tofu. Toss the tofu pieces gently until they are all coated by the mixture.
4. Then, pour the tofu cubes onto a baking tray. Make sure that they are spread in one even layer.
5. Put the baking tray into an oven preheated to 400F for half an hour. Turn the cubes over halfway.

BBQ tofu marinade

This BBQ seasoning is ideal if you want to replicate southern chicken wings! You can buy pre-made BBQ marinade, but here’s an easy recipe to make it from scratch.

Ingredients

• 1 14oz block of firm or extra firm tofu
• 1/2 cup of honey or agave syrup if you are vegan
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 jalapeno, or 1/2 if you prefer less spicy food.

Method

1. Add all your ingredients apart from the tofu to a bowl, and mix them well together.
2. Cube your tofu. Then add it to the bowl and marinate it for at least one hour, more if possible.
3. Add a little olive oil (or alternative) to the frying pan, and then cook until they are crispy. You could also bake the tofu pieces in the oven for around half an hour.|

Add anything else!

If you feel like experimenting in the kitchen, you could add all sorts of other seasonings. The general rule is to make a marinade with wet ingredients and powder or sprinkle oil on the tofu cubes before adding powder. Once you have these methods sorted, you can experiment with ingredients!

Is tofu healthy?

Tofu is generally a healthy option. It is high-protein and low fat and contains some essential vitamins and minerals. There are some reports that too much soya can be unhealthy, but as long as it is not eaten excessively, it is generally ok.

The extra ingredients are what can make most tofu dishes unhealthy. If you want a healthier option, try to use low-fat oils and low-sodium sauces. Some marinades are better for frying, and some work well with baking, but generally, you will use less oil if you bake.

Cooking tofu is all about seasoning. You can replicate different dishes, from BBQ chicken wings to Asian-style stir-fried meat, if you have the right seasoning. If you want to make delicious tofu dishes, add these useful marinading recipes to your cooking repertoire!